Buoyed by the sensational splash at the recent state Assembly elections with four wins, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) is now aiming at achieving political supremacy in the State in 2028.
“Our aim is not based on self-interest but we aim that one day in 2028, the VPP will rule the state alone and in order to achieve our aim, we cannot take the crooked path,” VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said at a ‘thank you’ rally here today.
Given the fact that there is no change in the political scenario because regional parties have betrayed the people by preferring not to lead the State this time, Basaiawmoit said VPP will not be seen as just another political party as it has gained trust from the people.
“The VPP had yearned for a regional party to lead the state and even offered its support to other parties, yet they (regional parties) chose to join the NPP,” he said, adding, “The VPP has its principles whether it sits in the ruling or the opposition.”
He claimed that the NPP admitted that his party has hindered them in the elections and at the moment it fears no other political parties in the state. “It is terrified by the VPP,” he added.
“Had the VPP not entered the fray this time, the NPP would have ruled the state with a single majority. Fortunately God chose people like us to fight against money power without any fear,” he said.
“Besides the four seats we won, in constituencies like Nongthymmai and Mawphlang, our party didn’t even have a polling agent but still secured more than four to five thousands votes which shows that the people have turned to our party for a change and everyone now want ‘Prah’ in their constituency.” In Mylliem, the VPP lost by a small margin of 38 votes, he said.
Recalling the challenges that the VPP faced in its initial stage, he said, “We fought a case and won against the state government who tried to barred college teachers’ involvement in politics because they want to hinder the teachers from joining our party.”
Basaiawmoit said the party faced some challenges to get the registration and only a month to prepare for the state elections. Nevertheless, he said VPP is now a recognised party.
“We won against money power and people understood that an individual and a party are equally important as they are the two sides of the same coin,” he said.
The VPP chief made it clear that entry to the party will not guarantee party ticket to contest the elections. He claimed that many have approached the party to secure tickets for the MDC elections.
“Those who come to the VPP only for the party ticket and don’t understand our ideology and principles should not at all come to the VPP because there is no guarantee that they will be allotted one,” he said.
The VPP’s sole aim now is to strengthen the party organisation and not to allot party tickets and any decision related to it will be done wisely, he added.
